Hopper closure assembly

ABSTRACT

A hopper gate assembly is disclosed for opening and closing a discharge outlet in a hopper which is particularly effective on railway hopper cars and trucks where the assembly becomes coated with ice or adhesive material and must be opened with the assembly including a discharge door having pivots adjacent the discharge outlet of the hopper where in the discharge door is opened and closed over the discharge outlet by a toggle action hand-operated linkage mounted on a side of the hopper and pivotally connected to the discharge door. A second toggle action hand-operated linkage mounted on a side of the hopper actuates a crank link pivotally supported on a side of the hopper and a locking lever which is integral with the crank link. The locking lever engages an edge of the discharge door opposite the discharge door pivots as the door is moved toward the fully closed position and actuation of the second toggle action handoperated linkage forces the door closed. Opening can be achieved even when the door is coated with ice by reversing the actuation of the second toggle action linkage which forces the discharge door open to break the ice or adhesive material coating thereby permitting the first toggle action linkage to fully open the door.

United States Patent [1 1 Florig 1 HOPPER CLOSURE ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Albert ,1. Florig, Norristown, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Florig Equipment Company, Inc.,

Conshohocken, Pa.

22 Filed: July 29,1974

21 App1.No.:492,861

[52] U.S. Cl 105/299; 105/304; 105/308 E [51] Int. Cl. B6ld 7/02 [58] Field of Search 105/304, 308 E, 296, 298, 105/280, 299

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,392 5/1937 Yost 105/299 3291071 12/1966 Dorey 105/299 X 3,730,106 5/1973 Tomborski 105/304 X Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love Attorney, Agent, or FirmMason, Fenwick & Lawrence 57 ABSTRACT A hopper gate assembly is disclosed for opening and Aug. 19, 1975 closing a discharge outlet in a hopper which is particularly effective on railway hopper cars and trucks where the assembly becomes coated with ice or adhesive material and must be opened with the assembly including a discharge door having pivots adjacent the discharge outlet of the hopper where in the discharge door is opened and closed over the discharge outlet by a toggle action hand-operated linkage mounted on a side of the hopper and pivotally connected to the discharge door. A second toggle action hand-operated linkage mounted on a side of the hopper actuates a crank link pivotally supported on a side of the hopper and a locking lever which is integral with the crank link. The locking lever engages an edge of the discharge door opposite the discharge door pivots as the door is moved toward the fully closed position and actuation of the second toggle action hand-operated linkage forces the door closed. Opening can be achieved even when the door is coated with ice by reversing the actuation of the second toggle action linkage which forces the discharge door open to break the ice or adhesive material coating thereby permitting the first toggle action linkage to fully open the door.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEU AUG-1 91975 3, 899.980

- sum 1 o g PATENTEU AUG] 9 ms sum 2 OF 4 PATENT AUG sms SHEET 3 UF 4 PATENTEU Aum 9197s saw u of g HOPPER CLOSURE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hopper gate assemblies for opening and closing a discharge outlet in a hopper and more specifically to hopper gate assemblies for use in environments where the assembly is likely to become coated with ice or adhesive materials to such an extent as to impede or prevent opening of the gate.

The prior art is replete with various types of door'opening mechanisms for hopper discharge doors all of which will not open or are extremely difficult to open when coated with ice.

The prior art door opening mechanisms which will operate when coated with ice or adhesive materials such as tar or mud have been inadequate as the result of various deficiencies with the primary deficiency being an inability to develop sufficiently high opening and closing forces to open and close the hopper discharge doors when coated with ice or the like.

Another problem with many prior mechanisms is that they are of complex construction frequently resulting in high initial costs and subsequent maintenance costs. The complexity of the mechanisms has contributed to operating failures of the mechanisms and has resulted in increased operating costs when the hopper doors could not be opened. Some of the prior mechanisms have required additional specially designed separate tools for operation wherein the loss or misplacement of the tools results in lost time and additional expense to the owner. Another drawback of the prior mechanisms has been that many have permitted only a limited opening of the door which slows the delivery of materials from the hopper thereby causing increased unloading time and resultant additional expense.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide a new and improved hopper gate mechanism.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism which is capable of operating and closing hopper discharge doors when the doors and the mechanisms are coated with ice or adhesive material.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mechanism which can apply high opening and closing forces to a hopper discharge door.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a simple manually operable opening and closing mechanism for hopper discharge doors requiring no additional separate tools to operate.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a toggle action opening and closing mechanism for hopper discharge doors which keeps the doors closed even under dynamic conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening and closing mechanism for hopper discharge doors which allows the door to open fully thereby permitting rapid discharge of materials carried in the hopper.

Achievement of the objects of this invention is obtained through the provision of a hopper gate assembly including a discharge door with pivots adjacent the discharge outlet of the hopper wherein the door is opened and closed over the discharge outlet by a toggle action hand-operated linkage mounted on a side of the hopper and pivotally connected to the discharge door. A second toggle action hand-operated linkage mounted on a side of the hopper actuates a crank link pivotally supported on a side of the hopper and a locking lever which is integral with the crank link. The locking lever engages an edge of the discharge door opposite the discharge door pivots as the door is moved toward the fully closed position and actuation of the second toggle action handoperated linkage forces the door closed. High opening and closing forces are achieved with the second toggle action linkage and locking lever combination while the first toggle action linkage moves the discharge door to a wide open position. The toggle action linkages keep the discharge door closed even under dynamic load conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following written description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the hopper, the discharge door, the opening and closing mechanism, and the locking and unlocking mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the hopper, the discharge door, the opening and closing mechanism and the locking and unlocking mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the preferred embodiment with the discharge door in the closed position and the closing handle in the locking position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the door swivel joint which connects the discharge door and the opening and closing mechanism as taken along l ne 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the preferred embodiment with the locking handle in the locked position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the discharge door in the locked position as taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the door lock taken along line 88 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a reduced fragmentary side view showing the position of the locking mechanism handle when the lock is in the ice breaking position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lock in the ice breaking position as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a reduced fragmentary side view showing the position of the locking mechanism handle of the lock just prior to disengagement with the discharge door as the discharge door is being opened;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary. sectional view of the lock in the disengagement position as shown in FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is a reduced fragmentary side view showing the position of the locking mechanism handle when the lock is sliding on a round locking lug at the start of the locking of the discharge door; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lock in the locking position as shown in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 the preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 15 is illustrated including a hopper 22, a discharge door 24, a toggle action opening and closing mechanism 26 and a toggle action ice breaking and locking mechanism 28. The hopper 22 is typical of many hoppers used in industry having four sloping sides 30 with coplanar lower edges forming the discharge outlet 32 shown in FIG. 8. The discharge outlet is reinforced by four vertically extending side walls 34 which are welded along their upper edges to the hopper sides 30 and at their ends to form a square protective shield for the discharge door 24. Four seal supporting plate means 36 surround the discharge opening 32 with each plate being welded at its inner edges to the lower edges of the hopper sides 30 and being welded at its outer edges to a central portion of the vertically extending side walls 34. A discharge door seal 38 formed of a resilient material is attached to the seal supporting plate members 36 to seal the contents of the hopper from the environment when the discharge door is in a closed and locked position as shown in FIG. 8.

The discharge door 24, as best shown in FIG. 8, is formed of a flat closure member 40 having downwardly projecting peripheral side walls 42 which reinforce its outer portions. Channel members 44 (FIG. 5) and 46 (FIG. 8) are welded to the lower surface of the flat closure member 40 to provide support for two relatively thick rigid straps 48 and 50 which are welded respectively to the legs of the channel members 44 and 46 and are pivotally connected at their outer ends to pivot pins 52 and 54 (FIG. 2) which are mounted in brackets 56 and 58 attached to the vertically extending side walls 34 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7). The discharge door 24 pivots about the pivot pins 52 and 54 when the door is being opened or closed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, opening and closing mechanism 26 consists of a first pivot bracket 60 attached to a first mounting plate 62 which is welded to a side 30 of the hopper 22. A first toggle link 64 is pivoted at one end on pin 66 supported by the first pivot bracket 60 and has a first handle 68 extending perpendicular to the first toggle link 64 on an extension plate 70 attached to the first toggle link. A first yoke 72 is pivoted to the first toggle link by a pin 74 which extends through the first toggle link and into the ends of the legs 76 of the first yoke.

A first actuation rod 78 is threaded at one end and secured at the other end to the yoke 72 to form an adjustable length actuation link 80 having nuts 82 on its lower end which can be positioned and locked at a desired position on the link so as to accurately adjust the operative length of the link 80 in an obvious manner.

Connecting the adjustable actuation link 80 with the discharge door 24 is a swivel joint 84 (FIGS. 4 and 5) including a tubular section 85 welded to the end of a shaft 86 which is also welded at one end to the rigid strap 48 and the channel member 44. The shaft 86 is also supported by gussets 88 and 90 which are welded to the shaft and to a reinforcing plate 92 which is fixed to the flat closure member 40 of the discharge door 24 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. Side wall 42 is welded to shaft 86 centrally of the ends of the shaft leaving the outer or free end of the shaft cantilevered out from the side wall. The outer end of the shaft has a shoulder to receive and retain an annular disc 94 and an inwardly second disc 96 which is welded to the shaft (FIG. 5). The tubular section 85 has an inside diameter larger than the rod 78 and smaller than the largest diameter of the nuts 82 and also has a radial slot 100 over which is welded a third annular disc 101 which fits between the first and second discs to form a swivel joint for the opening and closing mechanism 26. The annular disc 94 is free to rotate within slot 100 thereby permitting the discharge door to rotate to the fully open position without restricting the movement of the discharge door.

Referring to FIG. 3, the locking and ice-breaking mechanism 28 consists of a second pivot bracket 102 attached to a second mounting plate 104 which is welded to a side 30 of the hopper 22. A second toggle link 106 is pivoted at one end of pin 108 supported by the second pivot bracket 102 and has a handle extending perpendicular to the second toggle link on an extension plate similar to handle 68 and extension plate 70 of the opening and closing mechanism 26. A second yoke 1 10 is pivoted to the second toggle link by pin 112 which extends through the second toggle link and into the ends of the legs 114 of the second yoke. A second actuation rod 116 is threaded at one end and secured at the other end to the yoke to form a second adjustable length actuation link 1 18 having nut 120 which can be positioned and locked against a connecting yoke 122 to maintain link 118 at a desired length. A crank link 124 pivoted to connecting yoke 122 by pin 125 is attached to a pivot rod 126 which is supported for rotation by support brackets 128 attached to a side wall 34 and maintained in position by ring flanges 130 fixedly attached to the pivot rod 126 illustrated in FIG. 3.

An actuator lever 132 as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8, 10, 12 and 14 is welded at one end to the pivot rod 126 and the other end is sufficiently long to engage a rod segment 134, (FIGS. 8 and 14) welded into cutout 136 of downwardly projecting side walls 42 on the discharge door 24, when the discharge door approaches the closed position as shown in FIG. 14 and engages strap 50 when the discharge door is being opened as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12.

Final closing and locking of the discharge door is achieved by a locking lever 138 angularly displaced from the actuator lever, welded at one end to the pivot rod 126 and having an adjustable length stop 140 comprising a bolt 142 threaded into lever 138 and a stop nut 144 on the end of the bolt. The locking lever 138 is sufficiently long to permit the head of the bolt to engage the strap 50 as seen in FIG. 7 thereby permitting the locking of the door in the closed position.

A limiting lever 146, shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 and similar to the locking lever 138, is displaced axially and approximately radially from the locking lever to limit the angular rotation of the pivot rod 126. Bolt 148, which is threaded into the limiting lever and is locked into position by stop nut 150, limits the angular rotation of the pivot rod by engagement with striker plate 152.

To operate the hopper gate assembly from the closed and locked position as shown in FIGS. 1 through 8, toggle links 64 and 106 are rotated away from the side wall 30 of the hopper as partially shown in FIG. 9. As toggle link 106 is rotated counterclockwise, the second adjustable length actuation link 1 18 causes the crank link 124 to rotate clockwise as viewed in FIG. 9 which in turn rotates actuating lever 132 in a clockwise direction to force the actuating lever 132 against strap 50. With the high force advantage inherent in the toggle linkage, the actuating lever 132 is able to force open the discharge door 24 even when the door and linkage are coated with ice or adhesive material tending to resist opening movement of the door. After the toggle link 106 is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the actuating lever 132 clears the strap 50 and the discharge door is free to rotate to the fully opened position by rotating the first toggle link 64 through grasping handle 68 or simply releasing the toggle link to allow the weight of the door to rotate the toggle link.

To close and lock the discharge door, the first toggle link 64 is rotated upwardly which moves the discharge door toward the closed position where the second toggle link 106 is rotated upwardly (clockwise) as shown in FIG. 13 to bring the actuating lever 132 into contact with rod segment 134 to force the discharge door into the closed position. Final closing is achieved by the head of bolt 142 forcing against strap 50 as seen in FIG. 6. Since the toggle links rotate slightly past the position in which (as seen in FIG. 6) the pivot pins 112, 108 and 125 are on a straight line, the linkage is self locking; however, a locking bracket 154 and a padlock may be added to prevent accidential or undesired intentional opening of the discharge door.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof and as limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hopper gate assembly for closing a discharge outlet in a hopper comprising a hinge supported on the hopper adjacent the discharge outlet, a discharge door pivoted on the hinge, a toggle closing means between the hopper and the discharge door for pivoting the discharge door from a wide open position to a near closed position over the discharge outlet, and a toggle locking and opening means fixedly supported with respect to the hopper and engageable with the discharge door for closing and locking the discharge door in the closed position when operated in a first direction and for applying force to open the discharge door when operated in a second direction.

2. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the toggle closing means comprises a first pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a first toggle link having a handle on one end and pivotally connected to the first pivot bracket at the other end, a first adjustable length actuation link pivotally connected at one end to a position central of the ends of the first toggle link, and a swivel connection between the discharge door and the end of the actuation link opposite the end pivoted to the toggle link.

3. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 2, wherein the toggle locking and opening means comprises a second pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a second toggle link having a handle at one end and pivotally connected to the second pivot bracket at the other end, a second adjustable actuation link pivotally connected at one end to the second toggle link central of the ends of the second toggle link, a crank link pivotally connected to the end of the adjustable length actuation link opposite the actuation link connection to the toggle link, a pivot rod pivotally supported on the hopper adjacent the door and fixedly attached to the crank lever, an actuating lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge door, and a locking lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge doors.

4. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the toggle locking and opening means additionally comprises a limiting lever means attached to the pivot rod for limiting the rotation of the crank lever.

5. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein the actuating lever and the limiting lever means are angularly adjustable.

6. A hopper gate assembly for closing a bottom discharge outlet of a hopper, said assembly comprising a hinge fixedly supported on a lower portion of the hopper adjacent the discharge outlet, a discharge door of a size greater than the size of said discharge outlet mounted on said hinge for movement between a wide open position in which said discharge outlet is unobstructed and a closed position overlying said discharge opening, a toggle closing means between the hopper and the discharge door for pivoting the discharge door from said wide open position to a near closed position over the discharge outlet, and a toggle locking and opening means fixedly supported with respect to the hopper and engageable with the discharge door when the door is in said near closed position for moving the door to said closed and closed position and locking the discharge door in the closed position when operated in a first direction and for applying substantial force to open the discharge door to said near closed position when operated in a second direction.

7. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 6, wherein the toggle closing means comprises a first pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a first toggle link having a handle on one end and pivotally connected to the first pivot bracket at the other end, a first adjustable length actuation link pivotally connected at one end to a position central of the ends of the first toggle link, and a swivel connection between the discharge door and the end of the actuation link opposite the end pivoted to the toggle link.

8. The hopper gate assembly of claim 6, wherein the toggle closing means comprises a first pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a first toggle link having a handle on one end and pivotally connected to the first pivot bracket at the other end, a first adjustable length actuation link pivotally connected at one end to a position central of the ends of the first toggle link, and a swivel connection between the discharge door and the end of the actuation link opposite the end pivoted to the toggle link and wherein the toggle locking and opening means comprises a second pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a second toggle link having a handle at one end and pivotally connected to the second pivot bracket at the other end, a second adjustable actuation link pivotally connected at one end to the second toggle link central of the ends of the second toggle link, a crank link pivotally connected to the end of the adjustable length actuation link opposite the actuation link connection to the toggle link, a pivot rod pivotally supported on the hopper adjacent the door and fixedly attached to the crank lever, an actuating lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge door, and a locking lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge doors.

9. The hopper gate assembly as recited in claim 8,

wherein the toggle locking and opening means additionally includes a limiting lever means attached to the pivot rod for limiting the rotation of the crank lever.

10. The invention of claim 9, additionally including means for permitting angular adjustment of the actuating lever and the limiting lever with respect to each other. 

1. A hopper gate assembly for closing a discharge outlet in a hopper comprising a hinge supported on the hopper adjacent the discharge outlet, a discharge door pivoted on the hinge, a toggle closing means between the hopper and the discharge door for pivoting the discharge door from a wide open position to a near closed position over the discharge outlet, and a toggle locking and opening means fixedly supported with respect to the hopper and engageable with the discharge door for closing and locking the discharge door in the closed position when operated in a first direction and for applying force to open the discharge door when operated in a second direction.
 2. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 1, wherein the toggle closing means comprises a first pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a first toggle link having a handle on one end and pivotally connected to the first pivot bracket at the other end, a first adjustable length actuation link pivotally connected at one end to a position central of the ends of the first toggle link, and a swivel connection between the discharge door and the end of the actuation link opposite the end pivoted to the toggle link.
 3. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 2, wherein the toggle locking and opening means comprises a second pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a second toggle link having a handle at one end and pivotally connected to the second pivot bracket at the other end, a second adjustable actuation link pivotally connected at one end to the second toggle link central of the ends of the second toggle link, a crank link pivotally connected to the end of the adjustable length actuation link opposite the actuation link connection to the toggle link, a pivot rod pivotally supported on the hopper adjacent the door and fixedly attached to the crank lever, an actuating lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge door, and a locking lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge doors.
 4. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 3, wherein the toggle locking and opening means additionally comprises a limiting lever means attached to the pivot rod for limiting the rotation of the crank lever.
 5. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 4, wherein the actuating lever and the limiting lever means are angularly adjustable.
 6. A hopper gate assembly for closing a bottom discharge outlet of a hopper, said assembly comprising a hinge fixedly supported on a lower portion of the hopper adjacent the discharge outlet, a discharge door of a size greater than the size of said discharge outlet mounted on said hinge for movement between a wide open position in which said discharge outlet is unobstructed and a closed position overlying said discharge opening, a toggle closing means between the hopper and the discharge door for pivoting the discharge door from said wide open position to a near closed position over the discharge outlet, and a toggle locking and opening means fixedly supported with respect to the hopper and engageable with the discharge door when the door is in said near closed position for moving the door to said closed and closed position and locKing the discharge door in the closed position when operated in a first direction and for applying substantial force to open the discharge door to said near closed position when operated in a second direction.
 7. The hopper gate assembly according to claim 6, wherein the toggle closing means comprises a first pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a first toggle link having a handle on one end and pivotally connected to the first pivot bracket at the other end, a first adjustable length actuation link pivotally connected at one end to a position central of the ends of the first toggle link, and a swivel connection between the discharge door and the end of the actuation link opposite the end pivoted to the toggle link.
 8. The hopper gate assembly of claim 6, wherein the toggle closing means comprises a first pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a first toggle link having a handle on one end and pivotally connected to the first pivot bracket at the other end, a first adjustable length actuation link pivotally connected at one end to a position central of the ends of the first toggle link, and a swivel connection between the discharge door and the end of the actuation link opposite the end pivoted to the toggle link and wherein the toggle locking and opening means comprises a second pivot bracket supported on the hopper, a second toggle link having a handle at one end and pivotally connected to the second pivot bracket at the other end, a second adjustable actuation link pivotally connected at one end to the second toggle link central of the ends of the second toggle link, a crank link pivotally connected to the end of the adjustable length actuation link opposite the actuation link connection to the toggle link, a pivot rod pivotally supported on the hopper adjacent the door and fixedly attached to the crank lever, an actuating lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge door, and a locking lever attached to the pivot rod and engageable with the discharge doors.
 9. The hopper gate assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the toggle locking and opening means additionally includes a limiting lever means attached to the pivot rod for limiting the rotation of the crank lever.
 10. The invention of claim 9, additionally including means for permitting angular adjustment of the actuating lever and the limiting lever with respect to each other. 